New U.S. Legislation Introduced to Standardize Recycled Plastic Tracking: The Tracking Plastic Act of 2026

On July 30, 2026, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and his congressional colleagues introduced new legislation aimed at standardizing the tracking of recycled materials nationwide. Officially known as the “Tracking Plastic Act of 2026,” the bill is designed to crack down on corporate mislabeling and fraud, reduce reporting errors, and strictly verify the origins of recycled plastic content. By establishing a dedicated federal working group with precise timelines and measurable objectives, the initiative seeks to ensure that American consumers receive accurate, transparent information regarding the true environmental impact of the products they purchase.

The Purpose and Political Background of the Tracking Plastic Act

The legislative effort was spearheaded by Senator Adam Schiff and is officially co-sponsored by three other prominent lawmakers: Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.). The bill addresses a systemic issue in the current market where consumers are often misled by inaccurate or unverified claims regarding recycled plastic content. By establishing a reliable, federally harmonized traceability process, the legislation intends to prevent public deception, empower consumers with honest information, and hold manufacturers fully accountable for their environmental sustainability claims.

Establishment of the Federal Working Group: Strict Deadlines and Composition

A core provision of the Tracking Plastic Act of 2026 is the creation of a specialized “Federal working group for recycled plastic content traceability.” The legislation mandates strict operational deadlines: the initial members of this working group must be officially designated no later than 90 days after the date the Act is enacted. The working group will remain active until it has fulfilled all its statutory duties, but it is required by law to terminate no later than 10 years after its establishment.

The composition of the working group brings together designated representatives from a comprehensive array of federal departments and agencies:

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

• The Department of Agriculture (USDA)

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

• The Department of State

• The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

• The National Laboratory of the Rockies

Furthermore, the Administrator of the EPA and the Secretary of Commerce are tasked with jointly designating one or more representatives from institutions of higher education and the National Academy of Sciences. Operational leadership within the group is divided based on expertise: NIST will lead the development of traceability recommendations, while the EPA and the Department of Commerce will jointly lead all other mandated duties.

Core Duties and Quantitative Measures of the Working Group

The working group is required to use the EPA’s National Recycling Strategy as its primary guide. The legislative text mandates extensive professional coordination with States, local governments, Indian Tribes, nonprofit organizations, material recovery facilities, plastic reclaimers using recycled content, and academic institutions.

The statutory duties are divided into two primary categories:

1. Increasing the Use of Post-Consumer Resin: The group must develop strategic recommendations to boost post-consumer resin usage. In doing so, they are required to evaluate the necessary capacity of, and improvements to, domestic markets for U.S.-generated recycled plastics. They must also assess the economic benefits of this recycling approach and develop methodologies to monitor and measure the presence of toxic chemicals within post-consumer resin content.

2. Improving Measurement, Traceability, and Reporting: This mandate targets specific, large-scale economic sectors, including packaging, construction, infrastructure, and automotive industries. The working group is tasked with establishing standardized measurements for data collection that align, to the extent practicable, with established international norms—specifically citing the Australia National Framework for Recycled Content Traceability and standards utilized by North American trading partners.

Additionally, the group must describe a Federal recycled plastic content tracking system designed to harmonize disparate State-level requirements. They are also instructed to explore ways to clarify trade data, such as reevaluating plastic trade codes for recycled content, and to improve the traceability of plastic marine debris. To ensure public transparency, the working group must submit and make publicly available an annual report to Congress summarizing their developed recommendations and the issues currently under review.

Senatorial Statements on Consumer Protection and Accountability

In the official press release, the sponsoring senators emphasized the critical consumer protection aspects of the proposed legislation:

• Senator Adam Schiff stated that the reliable tracking process will provide Americans with accurate information, noting: “Consumers deserve the truth when making choices among competing products. Our legislation will crack down on companies that mislead the public on their reporting of recycled plastic content.”

• Senator Jeff Merkley highlighted the need for transparent labeling, explaining that this commonsense legislation empowers consumers to understand their plastic consumption “while ensuring manufacturers are accountable for the recycled content claims they make.”

• Senator Cory Booker reinforced the necessity of trust at the point of purchase, stating: “Every time Americans pick up a product at the store, they should be able to trust what they see on the label and not have to wonder whether the products they buy are truly helping to reduce plastic waste.” He added that the bill will strengthen recycling systems and ensure corporate accountability in the face of the plastic pollution crisis.

Broad Professional and Environmental Endorsements

Upon its introduction, the Tracking Plastic Act of 2026 immediately secured endorsements from several leading industry and environmental organizations. The official supporters include the Association of Plastic Recyclers, the Recycling Partnership, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Ocean Conservancy, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This broad coalition of support underscores the legislation’s potential to effectively enforce accountability and advance practical sustainability measures within the plastics industry.

Official Sources and Government Links:

• Senate Press Release (Original .gov source): News: Sen. Schiff, Colleagues to Promote Sustainability and Protect Consumers…

• Full Text of the Tracking Plastic Act of 2026 (PDF): Tracking-Plastics-Act.pdf